How does a player get a double on a grounder that deflects off the glove of a drawn-in infielder?
Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci demonstrated how in the sixth inning Sunday against the Minnesota Twins.
The Sox led by one run and were in position for more when Antonacci batted with runners on second and third and one out.
The Twins brought the infield in, and Antonacci hit a grounder back up the middle. Second baseman Kody Clemens dived, and the ball deflected off his glove and rolled into center field.
“I just feel like I have a good knack for knowing when I can take that extra base and when not,” Antonacci said. “I know obviously at times I get in trouble with it a little bit, but hopefully more times than not, I’m successful at it.”
Two runs scored while Antonacci hustled out of the box and reached second safely for a double.
“It starts out of the box,” manager Will Venable said. “He has created a really good habit. It’s something we talked about during spring training: first step out of the box. But that’s just Sammy and how he plays. He’s always thinking two (bases) and puts himself in a really good spot to get there.”
Antonacci scored on a single by Randal Grichuk and finished with three doubles, two RBIs and two runs in a 10-1 victory in front of 32,024 at Rate Field. Grichuk (solo) and Kyle Teel (three-run) homered during a five-run eighth as the Sox won two of three in the series.
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“Everyone offensively had a great day,” Venable said. “Sam was outstanding hitting the ball the other way. Obviously big hit with the infield drawn in. Great baserunning. Outstanding day from Sammy.”
The Sox (75-68) remained 2½ games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The Guardians (73-71) beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in 10 innings Sunday. The third-place Twins (68-75) fell to seven games back.
The Sox relied on their bullpen, using four relievers after opener Bryan Hudson. The five pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts and just one walk.
“Everybody threw the ball well,” lefty Hagen Smith said.
Smith retired all nine batters he faced, striking out four, while pitching a career-high three innings.
“To be honest, we didn’t account for Hagen going three innings,” Venable said. “That was really special. Covering an extra inning for us was huge. Put us in a spot where we were able to push Grant (Taylor) back a little bit.
“He has shown it all year, he’s really special. When he’s in the zone, he’s hard to square up. Gets a ton of swing and miss. Gets chase. He’s impressive.”
Smith has an 0.56 ERA in 10 appearances.
“I felt good,” he said. “Just being efficient … getting through at-bats quick, and it allowed me to go deeper in the game.”
In addition to Smith’s four punchouts, Hudson had two and Taylor, Jordan Hicks and Tyler Davis each struck out three.
“Tonight was all about the bullpen in my eyes,” Antonacci said. “Hagen threw really well. It was probably the best I’ve ever seen him throw, and it’s just him saying, ‘Here’s all my stuff and just go hit it.’
“It was really fun to watch the rest of the guys too. They did a really good job.”
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Run support came in the fifth. Antonacci doubled and scored on a single to right by Munetaka Murakami.
Antonacci was in the middle of the action again one inning later with his two-run hustle double that stretched the lead to 3-0. Grichuk drove him in with a two-out single.
“Just excited and happy to produce for my team,” Antonacci said. “Felt like I haven’t done that in a while, so to be able to help them out and ultimately come out on top tonight is September baseball. It doesn’t matter how you get it done as long as you’re winning, and every game’s a playoff game from here on out.”
The Sox added one run in the seventh and five more in the eighth — including the home runs by Grichuk and Teel. They wrapped up the season series with an 8-5 record against the Twins.
“Nights like this show what we’re capable of,” Teel said. “We have a really special group here. I’m looking forward for what’s to come.”